Yes, love is the greatest and most essential element of the Christian faith, surpassing all spiritual gifts.
According to Les Feldick, love is the foundation of our whole Christian faith and the predominating factor in the believer's life. It is greater than faith and hope, and without it, even the most impressive gifts and sacrifices are worthless. This love is not erotic but agape—seeking the other person's highest good.
1 Corinthians 13:13 — Directly states that love is the greatest of faith, hope, and love.
In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible teaches that love is essential and superior to all spiritual gifts. It says that without love, speaking in tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and even sacrificial giving are nothing (verses 1-3). Love is described as patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, and it never fails (verses 4-8). The chapter concludes that faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love (verse 13).
Les emphasizes that love is the very foundation of the Christian faith. It is what prompted Christ to go to the cross and what motivates believers in all relationships. Love is not erotic or Hollywood's idea of love, but agape—seeking the other person's highest good. It is the predominating factor in the believer's life, shaping how we treat family, neighbors, and even enemies. Without love, even correct doctrine and discipline are worthless. Les stresses that love must underpin how we communicate truth, avoiding harshness that closes minds.
In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul sandwiches the love chapter between discussions on spiritual gifts. Les explains that love is the greatest of all three (faith, hope, and love) and that without love, gifts like prophecy and tongues are meaningless. Love must be the basis for exercising any spiritual gift.
Les defines love as 'seeking the other person's highest good.' He clarifies that this is not erotic love or Hollywood's version. This definition helps believers understand how to love neighbors, spouses, and even enemies.
Les notes that while without faith you cannot please God, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission, without love it is impossible to please God. Thus, among faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest, as stated in 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Les teaches that love should be without hypocrisy (dissimulation), meaning we should exercise our gifts with all people, regardless of status. Love also means we don't get angry or upset with those who disagree, but patiently bring them to truth. This is exemplified in his approach to teaching.
Love Prevents Offense
Les shares a letter from a viewer who was never offended by his teaching, illustrating that love and patience are essential when presenting truth.
Love as Foundation
Les explains that love is the foundation of the Christian faith, prompting Christ to the cross and shaping our love for family and neighbors.
Love Is Greatest
Les emphasizes that among faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest, and without love it is impossible to please God.
Why Prophecy Is Greater Than Tongues - 1 Corinthians 14 Explained
You don't put them down as some kind of dummy. But in the spirit of love, bring them around to the truth. And that's what the apostle does then in both chapters 12 and 14, sandwiched by chapter 13. And so as even we go now into chapter 14, don't lose sight of what he wrote in the love chapter, that love is still the greatest of all the things so far as God's dealing with man is concerned.
Definition of Agape Love
Les defines love as seeking the other person's highest good, distinguishing it from erotic or Hollywood love.
Love Fulfills the Law
Les connects love to fulfilling the law, exemplified by Christ's love on the cross, and says believers should have that same love toward others, even enemies.
Love Without Hypocrisy
Les teaches that love must be without dissimulation (hypocrisy), meaning we should use our gifts for all people, not just the wealthy or cultured.
The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began
So this is what he's talking about. They didn't know, and we're no different today. It was a secret that had been kept in the mind of God until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul. Now we've already looked at the Word as He used it in chapter 4 in I Corinthians. Now let's go to chapter 13 and verse 2.
1 Corinthians 13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Shows that even spectacular gifts without love are empty noise.
1 Corinthians 13:2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Indicates that prophecy, knowledge, and faith are worthless without love.
1 Corinthians 13:3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Even sacrificial giving and martyrdom are profitless without love.
1 Corinthians 13:4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Describes the attributes of love that believers are to emulate.
1 Corinthians 13:8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Contrasts temporary gifts with the enduring nature of love.
1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The key verse stating love is the greatest.
It is not romantic or erotic love, but agape—a love that seeks the other person's highest good. It is God-centered and available to believers.
Because love is the foundation of the Christian faith and the greatest of the three. Without love, even faith and hope are incomplete; love is eternal and never fails.
Yes, the Bible says such acts profit nothing if not motivated by love. Les emphasizes that even generous deeds must come from a heart of love.
Love should be the predominating factor in our marriage, with our kids, neighbors, and even enemies. It means we don't get upset or angry with those who disagree, but patiently bring them to truth.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Love vs Spiritual Gifts